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ocariness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
towerofanimus2012-08-22 10:57 am
ocariness) wrote in towerofanimus2012-08-22 10:57 am
Entry tags:
[o7] ‸^‸ Seventh Song.
Characters: AU!OoT Link and OU!OoT Zelda
Setting: Directly after this (backdated to just after then; closed to Zelda)
Format: The kind that needs tissues (bracket spam)
Summary: Link keeps her promise to Zelda. A Talk is kind of needed after this revelation and her waking. Link made a promise, but she's got questions all her own.
Warnings: Sadness and cavaties and maybe dumb teenagers. Also Ocarina of Time spoilers of the massive variety I guess?
[ Time ticked on by, and eventually, without her waking up on her own, Link had fretted straight into exhaustion, falling asleep nearby Zelda's own resting place. She was slumped in a nearby chair, pulled over to where the sofa Zelda laid in the library was at, dozing.
She was still on high alert, though, and any noises startled her back to consciousness before she looked to see if Zelda was awake yet or not. When confirmed otherwise, she waited until she started feeling her eyes close yet again...
She would wake up. She would, and Link would be here when she did. Like she promised.
... Even if a bit sleepily. ]
AU!OoT Link and OU!OoT ZeldaSetting: Directly after this (backdated to just after then; closed to Zelda)
Format: The kind that needs tissues (bracket spam)
Summary: Link keeps her promise to Zelda. A Talk is kind of needed after this revelation and her waking. Link made a promise, but she's got questions all her own.
Warnings: Sadness and cavaties and maybe dumb teenagers. Also Ocarina of Time spoilers of the massive variety I guess?
[ Time ticked on by, and eventually, without her waking up on her own, Link had fretted straight into exhaustion, falling asleep nearby Zelda's own resting place. She was slumped in a nearby chair, pulled over to where the sofa Zelda laid in the library was at, dozing.
She was still on high alert, though, and any noises startled her back to consciousness before she looked to see if Zelda was awake yet or not. When confirmed otherwise, she waited until she started feeling her eyes close yet again...
She would wake up. She would, and Link would be here when she did. Like she promised.
... Even if a bit sleepily. ]
no subject
A panic Zelda herself is entirely unaware of, as she slowly blinks back into consciousness. Her first thought is to wonder if she had died, the deep slumber feeling so much like the paralysis experienced when one revives, but, no. One is normally acutely aware of what's going on when the paralysis takes place, so... what happened? She remembers trying to send out a message on the network, but...
Her second thought is to realize she's laying down, not slumped over a terminal. She was out enough for someone to take the time to move her.
Her third thought is to realize just how incredibly stiff she is, having not moved for days. And with that thought immediately comes a stretch, one that cracks a few joints and makes her wince. Augh, she's going to be feeling this for a while...
... What in Nayru's name happened?]
no subject
She's just glad, now, to know that Zelda is waking. It was her biggest worry that she might not.
After all, given the tragedy of another Zelda, it would suck if she had to go on a new quest for hers.Quietly, tentatively, she glances toward the Princess. ]
Thank the Goddesses, I was worried you might never wake.
no subject
[With a slight turn of her head, she looks at Link, brows furrowed in confusion and eyes squinting as they adjust to the light. Slowed by the remnants of deep sleep, it takes her mind a moment to come up with a more intelligent reaction.
Link was... watching over her as she slept? And was worried?]
Never wake...? How long have I been asleep?
[Time is tricky enough to keep track of in this place without going into strange, unexplained comas.]
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[ Link frowns, here. That... all that happened, did she remember it? If she didn't... this would be embarrassing, ahahaha... she'll let Zelda wake up before she dumps anything huge on her. She's like that too, after all. She enjoys her rest, but she's a slow riser and a heavy sleeper, usually. ]
I am sorry I could not wake you sooner. I tried, but it did not work.
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[Zelda shoots up at that, which... is not the best idea she's ever had. There's a moment of dizziness, and she puts a hand to her head as though to steady it. But that moment gives her a chance to think over Link's words.
"I could not wake you." "I tried, but it did not work."]
I... know you did. But you were there for me when I woke, all the same.
[She speaks distantly, confused by her own words. How does she know that? How did she know Link would be there for her?]
no subject
She is quiet for a moment. ]
I met a boy named Ventus who... explained things to me... I was concerned.
[ She doesn't ever want to lose you. She just can't keep the whole dream thing to herself. It wouldn't be fair. She has to be honest. ]
I am sorry. It was not really my place to intrude... I had no right. But--I could not protect you like this.
no subject
She does not shoo Link's arm away as the dizziness fades, instead merely looking at the Hero intently, searching for answers. Something... monumental has changed - she can feel it in her heart - but she cannot yet pinpoint what exactly.
Her next words are remarkably simple and quiet.]
Link, what happened?
no subject
... He... assisted me in using magic to enter your dreams.
[ Simple, to the point. She tends to be that way, usually.
Unfortunately, she is worried Zelda will become angry at her, unsure of what she may have seen. She is certain that will be the next question, but she would rather wait for Zelda's reaction or her next question before telling her exactly what she saw.
On the one hand, she did not want this to end in Zelda feeling her trust was broken, or bad. She made a promise, even in that dream, and it is one she certainly, no matter what will happen, intends to keep. ]
no subject
Taking her words as is, Zelda's eyes drop to her lap in thought. Now that she thinks about it... her dreams did seem a bit strange, even for her. She remembers fighting, hiding, people being where they shouldn't be and saying what was never said. And in all that mess, Link was there?
Link was there. When she woke up... like she promised she would be, right before...]
Oh, Goddesses...
[The Princess goes pale. She remembers Link being there for one dream and one dream only, and it's the one dream Zelda did not want her to see. Mortified, terrified, she puts her face into her hands, panic gripping her heart. No... no, no, no, no, no, this isn't how she was supposed to find out!]
no subject
Why? Why is she... is she angry? No, that's not anger. It's panic. She's worried about Link having seen what she was hiding, and predictably it wasn't her place to have found out.
She feels like she's somehow broken Zelda's trust. She's had time to think over what this all meant, but not in depth.
Not really. Even then... even then, she could not possibly ever be angry at Zelda for what she did. She was trying to help. How could she be angry when Zelda was trying to help her? She's certain sending her back... was her way of trying to fix all that went on.
This was all around... not something anyone was happy about, but in what way was it Zelda's fault? She didn't belong in that timeline. It was fact.
But you never came back, they said, so the Goddesses flooded Hyrule?
She remember's these words, too, and the revelation hits her... Zelda must be hurting more than she's ever realized. Every time she's tried to help her, she must have had so much guilt... she has to do something, but how? What could she possibly say to change this? ]
... Please... calm down.
[ Well... she can start with that, she supposes. She's worried, and it shows, and she reaches a hand out to touch her but thinks better of it, keeping some distance still, in case Zelda didn't want to be touched.
Link's face is far from anger at this point. She's tired, and it shows, but it's mostly just concern, worry. No small amount of guilt, as well, for how she hadn't figured this out sooner, and how much her friend has been hurting. ]
no subject
Well. It was nice while it lasted, huh? Having someone who could truly understand what she had gone through. She supposes it had to come to an end sooner or later - Link won't want to be around her any more, right? It'd be too painful...]
I am sorry.
[She begins curtly, formally, drawing her hands away from her face and wringing them in her lap. Her expression can be described as nothing but tight. Clenched jaw, pursed lips, furrowed brow. A futile attempt to keep the emotional firestorm at bay.]
I should have told you as soon as I met with you again. But, given time, I was selfish with it, and as time passed... I feared-- [No, this isn't about her. It's about Link.] -- ... Regardless, I shall hide no more. I will face the consequences of my actions, whatever they may be.
[She bows her head deeply, both displaying the extent of her regret... and veiling the pain said regret brings her.]
... I will not ask for your forgiveness, but I am sorry, all the same.
no subject
She narrows her eyes, folding her arms, and looks at Zelda. Normally... normally, she would not be saying much. Normally, she would have no words. She is bad with words on most occasions, after all, and she is... rough at getting things across properly. But in this case, it is Zelda, and it is her future, her world, the timelines--a subject she understands, and therefore one she feels strongly about. ]
... Now I am angry, Zelda, but don't you dare leave, because I am not finished speaking with you. I was not angry before, and I am not angry about any of that. Do you know why? Because you are hiding your pain from me, blaming yourself, continuing to hurt yourself and pretending as though I would cast you aside after nearly a year of being in this place.
Did you truly think that I would suddenly stop caring about you? Did you truly expect me to be angry at you for that? Zelda, I am not an idiot. Do not treat me like someone who would throw her friends aside because you did something you thought was right.
[ Here, she just sighs, before looking back to Zelda. ]
... Furthermore, I made a promise to you. I promised I would see that quest through. And I also made a promise to you that I would find a way back, that I would also protect you here, and I would not abandon you.
And these are all promises I intend to keep.
no subject
... Wouldn't you, though? she thinks but has enough of a mind not to say. She's caused you so much suffering, so much grief, wouldn't you want to leave if given the excuse to? She's spent so long pushing people away, keeping them at arm's length - someone rejecting that is... strange.]
...
[The Princess remains silent for a good moment, afraid to speak. What... does one do with apologizing doesn't work? She realizes she doesn't know.]
... I... - You... should not have to suffer any more...
[Her protest is weak and she knows it, but... she doesn't know what else to say.]
[1/2]
And neither should you.
[ ... Sigh. What's she going to do with you, Zelda... when you spend so long trying to help people and just hurting yourself doing it?
She needs to... explain this better. She just can't... leave it be. ]
You need to understand something... people will always suffer, Zelda. Even going back to my proper time there is no guarantee I would or would not endure further hardships, like any living being. They are a fact of life. I don't know many things, but I do know that much.
[2/2]
You don't.
That's what her gesture here is saying. ]
There are still many things to say, but this is most important to me... the fact you are not being fair to yourself.
no subject
[For someone whose sins are so many, who has doomed her country to a watery grave... is she truly not being fair? Does she not deserve this pain? People will always suffer, yes, but is it not fair for her to attempt to ease those burdens for people more innocent than her?
... She doesn't take Link's hand just yet, but the gesture is enough to get her to finally look up again, eyes pleading and sad.]
no subject
Zelda, you take the weight of an entire kingdom on your shoulders and more each and every day. You blame yourself constantly for things when you have only tried to do what is right... and if that is wrong, if you are wrong or terrible for doing that, then I am no better, because I have made the same mistakes time and time again myself... or I would not still be afraid of people as I am...
[ Here, she looks back to Zelda, nervous, and worried, but trying. She's trying to get her point across and hoping desperately it doesn't fall away somewhere in between. Words... weren't her strong suit. She takes a breath in. She could do this. Zelda's pleading gaze would give her courage. ]
I do not want someone else to decide whether or not my life would be happy for me. I want to decide that for myself. I am getting a little tired of destiny telling me who to be, where to be it, how to be. ... Even so, I am sure you feel the same way. Is it fair to weigh yourself down with these sorts of things?
[ Here, she lowers her hand again, holding her other arm awkwardly, embarrassed, worried, feeling like she's floundering stupidly at this whole "speech" thing, but... ]
If we cannot trust ourselves... then we could at least have faith in each other. ... Right? Because I have faith in you, but not because I expect you to be perfect, or because you are a Princess, or anything else like that.
It is because you are... my friend, Zelda.
no subject
She's trying so hard, for her, and Zelda can barely why, but...
Link still considers her a friend. Link isn't one to lie, not like this. Link still well and truly considers her a friend, and it's hard to stay sad with such a wonderful revelation.]
... All right.
[Her words are still somewhat hesitant, somewhat somber, but if Link's trying so hard, it's hardly fair for her not to try in return.]
It is... difficult, to believe all you claim - that good intentions can absolve one of the consequences of their actions - but... if there is one unshakable truth in this world, it is that I have utmost faith in you.
So. I will try. I... cannot say I will not falter at times, but I will try.
Because... you are my friend as well.
no subject
She sighs, here, but more out of relief. She's glad to hear this. ]
... Thank you.
[ She glances away for a moment. This isn't easy for anyone, is it? ]
... I never said it absolves you of anything; but as, in this case, it is I who would be affected, I would like to think that it is time we moved past this. All choices have consequences. ... In truth, the only thing I can fault you for is not asking if that was... what I wanted. It could have waited, perhaps. But we are only... what is the phrase I have heard?
"We are only human," or... something like that. In other words, we make mistakes. ... It is okay to falter in things. I think... what is important is that we... try to learn from them.
no subject
[To learn, to atone. One could argue it's all she's ever attempted to do since that fateful day seven years ago.
... And speaking of seven years ago, she's beginning to catch on to Link's true feelings about what happened, and... it doesn't feel good, to say the least. ... But now she doesn't know what to do.]
I... know you have said you are not angry, and that you wish to move on, but, before that... I wish to apologize one more time if my actions have hurt you in any way. That is the last thing I would wish to do.
So, if I have, I promise I will do everything I can to make up for those mistakes and learn from them, as you have said.
[Her words are vague, to avoid putting Link on the spot, though it's fairly obvious what she's talking about. And though she's afraid of inciting Link's anger again for apologizing, she just... needs some kind of closure to this, or else she fears this whole conversation will be for naught.]
no subject
Zelda... you make it sound as though it is just one, or the other. Things are not as simple as that. But it is not right for you to continue this way. Mind that I cannot tell you how to feel, it is not truly my place, but... you are not the only person who feels that way.
Lying to others, being afraid to admit that you are not as strong as you feel... making mistakes that have hurt others... if I have found out one thing from being here, it is that we are not the only ones who do this. Both of us are guilty, if that is the case.
[ She looks over to Zelda, now. ]
People cannot agree all the time. What is best for me... if you truly want to learn, then what we both ought to be learning here is that perhaps we should ask others what would make them happy and not just assume that we know. I wanted to stay with you, Zelda. I wanted to help you. But I did not belong in that timeline. I cannot hide from this fact.