XXI: Not That Fast

Before the Calamity

Zelda's POV:

Nothing.

I thought it was worth a try to pray at the Seven Heroin Statues. There was no reason for me to believe it would actually work, however. As usual, I unlocked no sacred power.

I dropped to my knees and threw my fists down into the sand. What was the point of me even trying? I nearly began to cry before I remembered my promise to Urbosa.

The emotional wretchedness I felt was tearing me apart from the inside. I knew father would scold me when I returned home. I knew that by not harnessing this power, I was putting all of Hyrule in jeopardy. A daughter of the royal family who cannot use sealing magic? I was worthless to my people. Maybe my praying was all to see how far I would bend before I break...

In the midst of my torment, I heard Link's footsteps in the sand. He stood behind me with his sword in hand while I was praying. He waited the whole time... he must have seen my tantrum.

"Link, I-" I said shakily, not knowing what to say. "Please just... don't pity me. This is my fault and mine alone."

Link came and squatted down next to me. He put his hand on my shoulder and looked at my face which was facing downwards, defeated. I clutched the sand and pressed it violently through my fingers. 

"Please Link," I said sadly. "Please, I can't-" I didn't finish. I didn't even know what I was going to say. I stood up and threw the sand in my hand down on the ground aggressively. 

Don't let him in. You'll get hurt again.

"Link there's no use in protecting me... What am I anyway? The heir to a throne of ruin? If I can't protect my kingdom I might as well be dead." My voice cracked as I said that, and I fought back tears that ended up coming anyway.

As the tears welled up in my eyes, I made a decision. I ran.

I didn't even care about anything anymore. I didn't care if I got caught by the Yiga clan and they took my life... I was of no use to my kingdom anyway. In that moment, I didn't even care if I never saw Link again. I was so consumed by defeat and depression that I only wanted to be alone. I had no idea what I was doing.

I ran, slipping in the sand every once in a while. I didn't look back once. Maybe I would just find a place far away from everything where I could just... lie down and rest. 

I grew tired very quickly, for running through the sand was extremely difficult. I collapsed in the sand from exhaustion and lied there, oblivious and apathetic to anything that could happen to me. I was very far from where I started.

Time passed. I thought of Link and how he must be so annoyed that I kept running away and almost getting myself killed. I thought, maybe I'll just put him out of his misery now.

I couldn't trace how long I had been there. I just rested alone in the sand for what felt like hours, staring blankly into the dark sand. Eventually, it grew cold as the day faded. I forgot how cold parts of the Gerudo desert got at night. For the first time in a while, I felt truly alone.

I heard shouts in the distance, but I could not make out what they were. I didn't even care. I just quivered in the sand as time passed, not knowing or caring how long I was there. I pulled my legs in against my chest, trying to protect myself from the cold.

Then, the shouts got close enough that I could hear them clearly.

"Zelda!"

I knew it was Link. Perhaps... I secretly knew that he would come for me.

His voice was hoarse from calling my name. He must have been looking for hours. I sat up, brushing the sand off me and looking to see where he was. He ran in my direction and must have spotted me because he began to sprint. He looked exhausted.

"Zelda," he gasped roughly as he approached me. He dropped down to the ground and grabbed me. "Zelda, are you okay."

"Y-Yes," I said pathetically. Seeing him again made me lose all of my composure. "Link, I- I'm so sorry."

My voice hitched in my throat and I began to sob. Why did everything always end with me sobbing into his shirt? I immediately released all of my resentment towards him as I cried. I knew how stupid I was being... I grabbed onto him, realizing the danger that I blindly put myself in. I was just constantly running away and waiting for him to find me. What was this game? It was foolish.

"You can't run from me, Zelda," Link said as he tilted my face up to look at him. He smiled and laughed softly.  "You're not that fast."

I laughed in between tears and knew that he was right. I didn't want him to find me at first, but when he did, I was grateful. I hugged him tightly.

"No matter how far you run, I will always find you."