Chapter published on October 17, 2014.

Chapter III

He waited.

Link shivered and stuffed his hands deeper into his sweater pockets, relaxed as the involuntary shaking soon passed. His hood was drawn up over his head to protect against the unseasonably cold weather blanketing Hyrule for weeks now. He stared down at the spotless concrete of the sidewalk beneath his scuffed and falling apart Eponas, watching the faint wisps of fog from his drawing breath dissipate in the air. He glanced up and around every now and again, scanning the faces of those passing by, those down the street, across the street, all around. When he found no sign of her approach he lowered his head and slumped forward slightly in his seat on the cast iron bench, a nearly silent sigh breezing past his lips as he closed his eyes for a moment.

And still he waited.

The cold continued to seep into him and he simply resigned himself to it's painful embrace, relaxing his once again tensed muscles as he leaned back in his freezing, uncomfortable seat. The chilled iron bit through his jeans and sucked the warmth from his body and he barely suppressed a violent tremor as he shifted and dug deeper into his pockets. Soon finding that just sitting there was impossible, Link decided to distract himself.

He opened his eyes and looked across the street, studied an elegant willow dancing in the wind in front of one the Goddess Temples, this one in particular devoted to the Goddess of Wisdom, Nayru. He craned his neck to observe the once glittering, towering steeples, the grandeur of the magnificent brickwork and shining stained glass dulled by the abysmal weather. Being in Upper Hyrule City made him feel out-of-place, like he did not belong, like a tattered rag among spools of silk.

Lavishly built stores lined the main street and various expensive restaurants and hotels were peppered around the area, catering to visiting politicians and the rich who never worked a day in their life. Link understood why Zelda asked to meet her here, she living within the gated community not far off where he was now freezing; being the daughter of Mayor Daphnes, he expected nothing less.

Not for the first time since he sat down, Link questioned his presence there, pondered why he even bothered to show up. She made it clear that there was not much to say considering she did not bother to talk to him in the weeks after their departure from one another. Link bristled in his seat, shifting as he felt anger worm itself into his gut. Why the hell am I waiting here, in the freezing cold weather, in a place I don't belong? Waiting for someone who obviously didn't want to continue a... whatever the hell it was?

Questions buzzed around his head like a swarm of angry bees, slowly pushing him more and more into rage's broiling embrace. He shifted, moving to get up and storm away, more angry thoughts running through his mind, when that voice spoke. For every thought he had, every decision he made, a voice would call from the back of the theatre that was his mind, stand and shout opposition, question the stage. But this time it gave him an answer. Because I can't forget about her. I remember every detail about her and she haunts me, my waking hours and dreams alike she haunts me.

Link felt the rising anger slowly ebb away, and he relaxed once more, a heavy sigh becoming a veritable cloud of fog exploding from his mouth. He glanced down and saw his white knuckles, relaxed his hands to relieve the intense pressure.

Rational thought returned and Link checked the time on his phone, saw he sat there for fifteen minutes, making her ten minutes late. With a weary shake of his head, he stood and winced as his stiff legs broke out of the position they were in since he sat down. He pulled his hood farther over his head and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, preparing to begin the arduous journey across town to his home.

"Link?"

Can't take one step. Not one.

He felt his lower lip quiver as he clenched his jaw tightly for a moment, loosening it as he slowly turned to face her, his hands sliding out of his pockets and hanging firmly at his sides. There she stood, merely a few feet away, long scarf snapping proudly in the wind like a royal standard. Cheeks flushed from the bitter cold and mouth hanging open slightly to suck down tired breaths, she looked like she full-out sprinted the distance. The hood of her peculiar and very expensive looking coat was drawn up over her head, a long auburn braid coiling part way around her concealed neck, dangling out over her scarf. Her dark eyes looked apologetic, desperate even.

His icy glare softened.

Her delicate fingers fiddled with the brass fastenings on her jacket as she continued, "Um... sorry I'm late, I-I got held up and I... couldn't... sorry..." Her downcast eyes studied her blue converse as she toed the ground, her hands stuffed into her pockets.

Link nearly fell, so strong was the sorrow in his heart at seeing her so saddened. Acting purely on impulse, he crossed the short distance between them and wrapped her in a tight embrace, closing his eyes as his hood fell away and he caught the faintest trace of her perfume. He felt her stiffen for a moment but she soon relaxed and awkwardly reached up to lightly return the hug.

He stepped back and felt the smallest hint of a smile on his lips. "It's all right. Let's get something to drink."

Zelda felt the cold's brittle fingers clawing at her back as the door to the small and comfortably furnished café gently closed behind them. The whole way to the café they walked in almost complete silence, so she studied his face, wondering what changed in him since she last saw him. The expression he wore when he turned around was exactly what she expected, bitter, indifferent, uncaring, perhaps a twinge of anger, but she saw it melt before her eyes. The small smile on his face she saw when he pulled away since fell and his lips were set in a firm line, as if he were deep in thought. About what, it was anyone's guess.

Instead of dwelling on it, Zelda glanced around her new surroundings, took note of the warm, easy lighting, the colour scheme matching that of most cafés, dark browns and reds, with splashes of tan between. The steady, but quiet, hum of coffee makers could be heard and the place carried the dark, strong smell of the brew. High granite tables and finely made black chairs upholstered with leather mingled with more spacious booths, flowing, dark red curtains framing well-cleaned windows stamped with the business's name and date of establishment: Romani's - est. 1877. The simple finery of the place surprised her; it looked out-of-place in the graffiti and drab, concrete apartment complex adorned Lower Hyrule City.

She turned her head and saw that Link was staring at her and she felt her cheeks burn as he suddenly looked away and walked up to the counter, tapping a small silver bell that sat off to the side. She hesitated in following for a moment, the forlorn look on his face giving her pause. Zelda approached the counter and stood beside him, noticed his jaw work slightly as if he were slowly grinding his teeth. One moment he was angry, the next happy, sorrowful after that, and back to angry. It's like he's playing emotional roulette, who knows what he'll be next. Zelda sighed inwardly; she did not know what she was expecting, but this was not it.

Just then, there was a creak as a swinging door opened and out came a rather tall girl, long, muted red hair tumbling like a river out of a small black cap with the word Romani's stamped in gold. Sprayed across her high cheekbones and small nose were dozens of tiny freckles, complimenting her bright, laughing blue eyes. Zelda glanced at the name tag pinned on to the black apron worn over her dark red shirt: Cremia.

She flashed a smile towards Link and in response the corners of his mouth twitched upwards as she greeted him with a small nod, resting a hand on the register. "Afternoon, Link, the usual?" Her voice was cheery, a hint of a giggle to be heard at the end.

Link rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head slightly. "No, for today we'll just have two hot chocolates, one with a generous amount of whipped cream." She saw Link's eyes flit over to her for a moment and then his attention was back on Cremia, but Zelda was not listening to their words.

Zelda's eyes widened slightly and she turned her head to stare at Link who just looked straight ahead, like she was not even there. For a moment, she was confused that he knew exactly what she wanted, but it came rushing back to hit her like a bag of bricks.

"You can't be serious!" Zelda laughs, her head tilting back slightly as she shifts on to her side to regard the peaceful figure that was Link lying a few feet away.

His legs are crossed and he leans his head against the tree behind him, his hands acting as a barrier between the rough bark and his scalp. Eyes closed, he just breathes in the cool, clean air surrounding him, feels the soft embrace of the wind tousling his hair. He chuckles at her reaction and holds up his hands, giving a quick shake of his head. "No, I'm completely serious, one hundred percent."

She laughs again and shakes her head in disbelief. "You can't swim... How can someone not know how to swim?"

At this, Link opens his eyes and shoots her a faux glare. "Hey, I never said I can't swim, it's just... I can't swim effectively, that's all."

Zelda holds up her hands in mock surrender, trying hard to stifle her laughter and hide her beaming smile. "Of course, of course, my apologies," she giggles. "Anyway, it's your turn to ask something, so let's hear it then."

Link gives her one last look and closes his eyes again, shrugging as he sighs. "Hmm... How about your... favourite thing to drink when it's cold out?"

Zelda perks up at that and Link watches amusedly through half-lidded eyes as her brows knit together in apparent confusion. "Little bit specific, don't you think?" She shrugs and her smile returns as she thinks carefully, looking upwards to the dancing canopy above her. "Hot chocolate," she answers, her head snapping back down to face him, smile grown larger, "hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream. It tastes like heaven and warms you right up; I love it."

"Zelda."

He remembered that? Why?

"Hey, Zelda. You still there?"

Zelda blinked, coming out of her reverie in time to see Link holding a steaming mug, a mountain of whipped cream topping the gently rocking dark brown liquid. He looked concerned, his eyebrows raised slightly as he offered the drink to her.

"Oh, yeah, sorry, I was just... thinking." She gave him a reassuring twitch of the lips and wrapped her hands around the mug, carefully easing it from his grasp, sighing inwardly at the spreading feeling of warmth throughout her hands. She took a sip, mindful not to dip her nose in the cream, and smiled, looking him in the eyes. "Thank you, Link. This is really good of you."

He picked up his own mug off the counter with a quiet 'thank you' to Cremia, and said, "It's no problem, you looked like you needed it. C'mon." He brushed past her and she followed him across the linoleum-tiled floor to a booth across from the front window.

As she slid into the booth, Zelda truly noticed how empty the place was. "Is it always this quiet and, well... empty, around here?"

Link looked at her from over the lip of his mug, finishing his sip before answering. "No, Cremia usually has a lot of business; today's just a slow day I suppose."

"Oh." Zelda took another sip just to busy her hands, look anywhere else but into his intense gaze.

"Yeah."

A pregnant silence filled the air between them, and all the while Link did not take his eyes off hers. Zelda could hear the ticking of a wall clock somewhere, the sound blaring against the gentle hum in the background. She felt a strong, sickening, nervous feeling in her stomach, the situation making her suddenly extremely uncomfortable. She clung to her mug and felt her shoulders bunch together as she curled in on herself slightly.

He broke the silence, asked the question she was dreading. "So tell me, Zelda, why did you want to meet me?"

She dreaded it because there was no answer. Something else compelled her to message him and she had no idea what it was. How do I explain that? I can't, I can't explain it.

The sound of the clock was deafening, she felt the warmth of her mug beginning to become uncomfortable but she only wrapped her hands around it tighter, the strain turning her knuckles white. She held her breath, but for what she had no idea, kept holding it until her lungs screamed in protest.

"Zelda?"

That did it.

All at once, Zelda exhaled strongly, relaxed her grip, and she looked up and stared Link in the eyes. He merely stared back, an eyebrow raised slightly, waiting patiently for an answer. She studied those eyes, somehow found the strength to not flinch away from staring into them. In those dark emerald pools, she found her answer.

"Because I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I disregarded you and that was completely unfair of me." Zelda's throat constricted beneath her scarf and she felt it tingle, bringing unbidden tears to her eyes. "With my boyfriend gone there's no one else and I'm... afraid. I'm so sorry, Link, sorry for everything."

Sorrows laid bare, splinters in the mask.