XLVII: You Can Go

During the Calamity

Zelda's POV:

"Was that-" I mumbled quietly. "I... I did it-"

I started breathing quickly and almost fell backward. My hands were pale. The Triforce symbol was boldly glowing on my right hand. I finally unlocked it. I couldn't believe it- it really was in me all along. It wasn't my father or even my duty to my kingdom that could unlock it... It revealed itself when I needed to save Link. I looked up and everything in my line of sight was glowing. All of the guardians were broken down and there was no aura of evil at all. Everything seemed to be blooming just as it was before Ganon awoke. We could finally stop him...

"I did it Link," I panted, barely able to believe my own words. "I did it! We can defeat Gan-"

I whirled around and he was on the ground. I felt my body go cold. Instantly, I was at his side.

"No," I gasped, throwing myself down on the ground. I grabbed onto him, gripping his tunic while my hands moved about him in frantic patterns.

He coughed up blood and looked at me, his face pale and eyes bloodshot. His eyelids fluttered weakly, and his gaze was almost lifeless. My heart pounded furiously, a thousand beats per minute, as I watched my worst nightmare unfold before me.

"N-n-no," I gasped, my voice barely a whisper. No tears came; the shock was too overwhelming. I couldn't fully grasp the reality of what was happening.

"Zelda," he pleaded, coughing again as blood trickled down his chin. I gently cradled his face, my hands slick with his warm blood. 

His whisper broke me. Tears burst from my eyes, streaming uncontrollably down my face despite my desperate efforts to hold them back. I wanted to be strong for him, but I couldn't. My strength gave way and I collapsed on top of him.

My body shook violently with sobs as he clutched his torso in pain. I couldn't move. I wrapped my arms around him and cried into his chest, feeling utterly helpless. I was too late. I was always too late.

"You c-can still st-stop him, Zelda" Link whispered, forcing air out of his lungs. His voice was weak, and I could feel him growing colder by the second. "Ganon" he whispered. "You can stop G-Ganon..."

"P-please Link," I sobbed. I couldn't listen to him like this. I didn't want to stop Ganon, I wanted to die with him. What had I left to live for? 

"And af-after," Link began painfully, "you can find your f-forever..."

I began crying even harder. "You are my forever, Link," I cried, my voice muffled in his blood-soaked shirt. My hands shook against him. We had only minutes left together. "I won't ever love an-anyone like I love y-you, Link..."

Link coughed and moved his arm with all of his strength. He dropped it on my back and rested it there. "You have the wh-whole world out there," he whispered. 

"No," I cried. "No... my whole world is you." I buried my face deeper into his chest. I couldn't look at him. I couldn't watch him die. The mix of tears and blood burned my skin.

"I'm sorry," he coughed. 

My heart burned with rage when he said that. I was furious at the Calamity, furious that it made him think he had anything to be sorry for.

"Don't b-be sorry," I whispered, my sobs intensifying. My throat burned from crying. This was the most excruciating pain I'd ever felt. He had nothing to be sorry for. I had everything to be sorry for. He was dying because of me... I wanted to beg him to be okay, but I knew he couldn't help it. Pleading for him to stay would only make him feel worse.

"Thank you," I choked, forcing a weak smile. "Thank you for everything, Link. You did so well to get me this far." His eyes moved slowly, meeting mine. Another sob escaped my lips, and I wiped my tears on my forearm. "And... thank you for loving me, Link. I won't ever forget you." I lay back down and rested my head on his chest.

As time passed, my shaking slowed. I lay there, crying silently, holding him tightly as I took deep breaths to compose myself. Link wouldn't be able to leave in peace unless I let him go. I had to say goodbye.

"You c-c..." I mumbled, struggling to find the words. "You don't have to hold on, Link." I sniffled and turned my head so he could hear me. "You can... you can go. It's okay—"

My voice broke off. I shut my eyes as tears streamed down my face, my body quivering slightly. A dark, depressing peace surrounded me. I reached up and gently stroked his hair, knowing he had done his best.

It was inevitable; I knew that. Trying to stop it would only make it worse. There was nothing I could do except be there with him as he passed. I wallowed in immeasurable grief... I couldn't believe it.

"I'm just gonna lay here with you, okay?" I whispered, releasing my grip to make him more comfortable. "I won't leave you..."

The rain and wind intertwined, creating whooshing sounds around us. I tried to focus on it, desperate for any distraction. I promised myself I would stay until his last breath. I owed him that. Moments passed in agonizing silence until he finally spoke.

"I love you, Zelda," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm.

"I love you, Link," I replied weakly, my voice breaking. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe.

Time passed slowly. I lay there with him, the rain continuing to fall, tapping rhythmically on the leaves above. He had stopped moving long ago, but I couldn't bring myself to look at his body. Instead, I just lay there, holding him, unable to let go. I tried to process the fact that I just heard his voice for the very last time.

I had no idea how long I stayed there, but it was until the rain stopped. His body lay next to me, but I was alone, and the world felt empty and cold.