【 P R E S E N T L Y 】
Link awakens before dawn now. The first thing he does is run towards the entrance of the village. Then he sits and waits, and waits, hoping to spot the bright, red flag of the Postman appear over the horizon.
This soon became a ritual for him.
Rain or shine, he'd be there. He didn't care if the morning fog has yet to settle, and he couldn't see a thing. He practically lived and breathed for this moment. It was the only thing keeping him from spiralling into complete and utter misery. It was the only thing he looked forward to these days.
Of course, the Postman couldn't possibly make the trip to Ordon every single day. He only arrived if there was something to be delivered. The few times he did come, it was to deliver parcels to Mayor Bo from the other Tribes. He sometimes also brought letters from Princess Zelda, inviting Link to her banquets.
He didn't care about any of that.
What he so desperately hoped for was a letter from you. Or even better, to have you come home to him, even though he knew that was a long shot. He had explicitly written to you that he wasn't going to beg you to come back. He didn't own you, after all. And after his meeting with your father, Link almost seemed to respect your little disappearing act.
The days without you gave him a chance to look back and reflect seriously, and he felt like a complete fool for not noticing earlier. You were having such a hard time re-adjusting to life in Ordon. You looked downright miserable. So who was he to keep you tied to a place that made you sad?
Though selfishly, a part of him he secretly wished you would return and be happy.
Perhaps... Be happy with him?
The thought seemed to strike something deep within his soul, sending waves upon waves of delight coursing through his system. The very thought of you brought a dreamy smile to his face. Sometimes he selfishly longed to return to the days where it was just you, him and Midna. By no means did he wished for darkness to threaten the world again. He did miss it when you used to be so close, both physically and emotionally.
Now that he thought about it, you were always there by his side. You did everything for him, putting him before even yourself. You made saving the world so easy. You were dependable and trustworthy. You always had his back, covering his side and defending him when he was struck down. You were the one who would gather and prepare supplies for the journey. However, your mind would often wander into a daydream, and it would be hours before Link finally found you.
Now he finally knew why you would drift off into a daze. You weren't daydreaming. You were reminiscing. If what your father had said was true, then your head was filled with countless memories of many lifetimes. Ones that Link apparently shared in as well, but alas, he did not remember. His only memories of you began the day you came stumbling into his arms and his life.
Yet your memories were centuries, maybe even thousands of years old.
Nothing could be crueller than that. What a fate to be subjected to.
Link sighed and stood up from the tree stump that served as his chair. He turned towards the east and squinted. The sun had risen above the horizon.
The Postman didn't come today either. You didn't write him back, and that hurt the hero deeply.
You had always been there. Every step of the way. Always.
But now you were gone, and Link felt helpless. A part of him had always assumed that you'd be at his side forever, no matter what. That part was true, to a certain extent. You were created solely for him. He was the reason why you existed. You should be here.
That would only happen in the next life, however, and that was too late for Link. He'd forget. You'd remember. He would hurt you without even knowing; he has been hurting you for the past centuries. Gods, he was so furious with himself.
How could he do this to you?
How could the Gods let him do this to you?
Why were you the only one who remembered?
Why did he have to forget?
He didn't want that. He couldn't forget you. He needed you. But then he realized... More importantly, perhaps you needed him too—more than ever.
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Link wasted no time at all. He gathered everything he needed, bid farewell to everyone, and prepared to set off yet on another adventure. To his surprise, no one really asked him many questions, and they didn't seem surprised in the least. They showed him a genuine smile, wished him a safe journey, and asked him to write frequently.
The hero thought maybe Fado, at least, would be upset for losing another farmhand. The older man, however, gave a good laugh and clapped Link on the shoulder. "It's about time. I was wondering when you'd head out. Go get her champ," was what he said.
Link felt elated, knowing he had the support from his loved ones. But then again, he couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet about the whole thing. This was the second time he'd be leaving his home. Although everyone understood, he couldn't help but feel bad for breaking his promise to remain in Ordon always.
Epona snorted impatiently, bringing Link out of his thoughts. The hero shook his head as if to clear away the doubt. He turned towards his trusty mare with a small smile and gently placed his hands upon her cheeks.
"Sorry about this," he muttered softly. "Sorry for taking you away from home again."
Epona shook her head and clicked her hooves against the ground. "Don't apologize! I like going on adventures!" She seemed to say.
Link's smile widened. "That's my girl," he cooed sweetly. "Ready to go?"
Epona tilted her head back and gave out an excited neigh. Taking that as a positive response, Link took hold of her reigns, intending to depart down the forest path and back to your side. He barely took a few steps, however, before he suddenly came to a halt.
Standing off to the side, concealed within the scattered shadows beneath a tree, stood the one person who Link would have never expected. His heart gave a loud 'thump' against his chest. This time, however, it wasn't because he was overcome with joy or excitement. He was anxious.
They stood in silence, just staring at one another.
Link felt like he was supposed to be running towards her. He was supposed to say something to her, anything. Yet part of him knew he shouldn't. He was supposed to feel like he didn't deserve to. He wanted to break his gaze away, lower his head, and show her just how awful he felt. But he didn't feel any of that. He felt... Free. Like he was finally doing the right thing - or rather, something he should've done a long time ago. His stance remained tall and straight, his shoulders squared, and his gaze unwavering.
"Ilia."
She seemed to perk up at the sound of her name instantly. Her excitement barely lasted a second before her shoulders dropped, and the forlorn-look consumed her features once more.
"Hi, Link." The corner of her lips tilted upwards into a small smile, yet it didn't seem to reach her puffy eyes.
Slowly, she approached him, her movement slightly hesitant.
Link carefully watched her, taking in everything from her expression to her behaviour. It was obvious, by the puffiness of her eyes and the redness of her cheeks, that she had been crying. And now, despite her proximity, she seemed so emotionally detached.
Link frowned.
It was so alien.
They had always been so close, ever since their childhood. He knew, perhaps even as a child, that he felt something strong for her. At first, it was a desire to protect her and shield her from anything harmful. As they aged, those feelings blossomed into something more.
Hailing from such a small community, he always thought he'd get married to her someday. They would settle down in Ordon and raise a family together. But of course, that was before the descent of the Twili, before Link was pulled into a battle between good and evil... Before he met you.
"Is something the matter?" Link asked quietly, even though he knew the answer already.
He was the one who had made her cry, and he hated himself for it. Ilia was special to him. She was the first person he had gone to see with his announcement. That was given, of course, since they had grown exceptionally close after the whole Twilight ordeal. Needless to say, she wasn't pleased in the least. When Link tried to explain, she had stomped off in a huff. Link tried to chase after her, but his efforts were to no avail. He knew that she needed time to cool off, so he waited patiently for her to return. He could only wait so long, however, because he was needed elsewhere.
He needed to be with you.
While Ilia would always have a special place in his heart, Link knew his heart desperately yearned for someone else. He wasn't too sure if his newfound feelings were his or not. After all, if what Krane had said was true, Link had lived thousands of lives before this one, even if he didn't remember them. Perhaps his desire for you had always been there. Maybe it was the unspoken feelings of one of his previous lives? Or it was just lying dormant within his heart, waiting for the right time to surface.
Link was sure that his past lives must've loved you too. There was no doubt about it. You were, quite literally, one of a kind. Created by the Gods for him. You were meant to be with him forever, so it only made sense that he was meant for you too. Even though Link had no idea whether his past lives acted upon these feelings or not, he wasn't about to sit back and let you go that easily.
He was going to fight for you, just like you had been fighting for him since day one.
"Please... Won't you reconsider and stay?"
Ilia's voice was small and so quiet that Link almost missed it. Despite the soft volume, Link knew it had taken an incredible amount of courage for her to say those words. His heart shook, and he almost lost his conviction. Releasing Epona's reigns, Link slowly closed the distance between them. He reached out and gently took her face into his hands, holding it delicately.
"I'm sorry, Ilia," he muttered softly, his voice practically stolen by the wind. "I can't."
A small sob escaped past her lips as she quickly lowered her gaze. But it was too late. Link had seen the tears beginning to form within her eyes and threaten to spill over down her red cheeks.
"... Why?" She whimpered, trying to control the quiver in her voice.
"You know why," Link replied quietly, apologetically. "I'm sorry, Ilia. But my place in this world is elsewhere."
Ilia looked back at him then, and a self-deprecating smile began to form across her lips. "By [Y/N]'s side, you mean."
Link remained quiet. He wouldn't deny it because it was the truth, yet he wouldn't voice it out loud because he didn't want to hurt Ilia any more than he already has. However, it seemed his silence was more than enough to cause the girl to burst into tears.
Ilia quickly pulled away from him, leaving Link feeling somewhat lonely. Instinctively, he reached out for her. It seemed like his body had become accustomed to having her close. He did, after all, search throughout all of Hyrule to find her and keep her safe. Just as his fingers brushed against her arms, however, your face suddenly appeared within his mind's eye.
Link suddenly froze. That's right. The one he wanted was you.
His arms dropped back to his side, and he could only watch, his entire being filled with sorrow, as Ilia began to cry her heart out.
"Oh... Link! I... I...!"
Her sobs gradually grew in volume as tears began to stream down her anguished face. Realizing Link wasn't about to hold her again anytime soon, she wrapped her own arms around herself in comfort.
"Link...! I... I lo-"
The hero's eyes widened. Before she could say anything more, he quickly took her into his arms. He held her tightly, pressing her soaked face into the side of his neck with his hand. The last of her voice came out as a muffle, barely audible.
"Shh..." He squeezed her tightly. "Please... Please don't say it." Because that'll just make things harder.
Ilia's sobs increased even more. She abided by his wish, and she didn't say anything else. She remained within Link's arms, though she didn't dare to hold him back. And so she cried, and cried, and cried; her tears flowing like a waterfall. Link held her the entire time because this was the last time he could do so.
"Thank you, Ilia." He whispered. "Goodbye."
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Author's Note:
Hello! ^^
I'm really sorry if Link seemed kind of strange in this chapter! I was trying so hard to write him as someone who was caught in a difficult situation. Even though he decided to embark on a journey to find you, my dearest reader, it was still hard for him to leave everything behind. Especially Ilia, who (in this fanfic anyway) he held strong feelings for. Although his mind was made up and his resolve remained strong, it still hurt him to have hurt her.
Does that make any sense? xD
Thanks again for checking out my story!
Comments are always appreciated! (: Even if you just want to say hi!