This chapter was inspired by the song "Cold" by Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams.

A gentle rapping on her door pulled the young princess from her sleep.

Her eyes felt sore from crying herself to sleep again while holding her best friend's poncho to her chest. Groggily she sat up in her bed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. The morning chill on her naked body told her that it was just barely dawn, as if in a trance she swung her legs over the side of her bed and picked up a shawl from the ground and wrapped it around her waist as she stood.

She opened the door, Deann stood in the hall her own eyes seemed swollen and red, similar to Midna's own. ''Good morning, your Highness.'' The young maid greeted with a curtsy.

''How may I help you, Deann?'' Her voice was horse, her words were not harsh but she was not in the mood for pleasantries today.

''Her Majesty wishes you to join her for breakfast in the dinning hall.''

Midna nodded. ''Please let her know I will be with her once I dress.'' Deann bowed her head and left.

The young woman closed the door and went to her dresser. Resting atop the piece of furniture was a black dress and a dark veil. She pressed her eyes closed willing herself not to tear up. Today was the third day that she had learned of the fate that befell her best friend.

She removed the shawl and dressed. Once the veil was in place she turned back to her bed and stared at the poncho resting atop her fur blanket for a long time. Slowly she folded the poncho into a square and tucked the article of clothing tightly under her arm.

Her Mother sat at the head of the long table dressed in her own dark dress. She ate her breakfast slowly and methodically, more going through the motions of eating rather then doing so out of the desire to satiate any form of hunger. The Princess could not blame her Mother's lack of appetite, her own had been practically nonexistent since the survivors of the expedition had returned. Survivors the word made Midna's stomach twist. Vezzna's fork had just speared a piece of fruit when she paused noticing her enter the room. She watched as the older Royal's face fell no doubt from noticing her haggard exterior that her veil failed to hide in the slightest.

''Mother.'' She said in a form of greeting as she sat in the seat to her right. Swiftly a young servant placed a plate of eggs, ham, fruit and a slice of toast in front of her.

''Did you sleep?'' The Queen asked setting her utensil down.

''A little.'' Midna simply stared down at her plate.

''Eat,'' Vezzna employed. ''Please, you need your strength.''

''I'm not hungry.''

The Royal breathed deeply through her nose. The servants had notified her that her daughter had seldom eaten any of the food that they had brought her the previous day and that she had barely left her room. ''How do you feel?'' The Princess slouched in her chair and gave no response. ''If it is to painful for you, you do not have to attend.''

Midna fixated her mother with a look that was nearly a glare. ''If I didn't show it would be like spitting in his face.''

''I think he would understand.'' Vezzna tried to console.

''I need to be there, Mother.'' Her voice was shaky as if she were on the verge of sobbing.

A Knight entered the dinning hall and knelt before the royals. ''Everyone has gathered and await your arrival, my ladies.'' She informed.

The older Twili woman looked to Midna once more, after a waiting in vain to see if her daughter would at least touch her food she rose from her seat and waited for the Princess to do the same.

As the two left the dinning hall Vezzna took notice of the thing tucked tightly into her daughter's armpit. ''What do you plan on doing with that?''

Midna crossed her arm and felt the poncho's worn fabric. ''I'm not sure yet.''

The entrance courtyard was filled to the brim with dozens of people all surrounding thirty-nine funeral pyres that had been built in the center of the courtyard. Only nine of the pyres held bodies while the rest remained empty. The bodies had been bathed in oil and now rested atop the wood covered in pale sheets.

Friends, family and lovers all stood shoulder to shoulder silently. The only noise being the wind and the low crackling of the thirty-nine torches being held by the knights standing among them.

The crowd simultaneously turned towards the palace landing when the Queen and Princess appeared through the open doors, they descended the landing and stood beside the others. Midna could see Casdin and his husband together, Kul had his arm around the doctor, Sebin and his sister stood with Havid between them, Xanza stood with torch in hand staring at the ground.

Vezzna cleared her throat and spoke for all to hear.''We are all gathered here this day to morn and honor those who have been lost. May their memories stay strong and their teachings guide us in our futures.'' The Queen looked to her left where Venrik stood torch in hand a good distance away beside Iliana.

The general stepped forward and the other Knights holding the other thirty-eight torches followed suit. The women and men held their torches high above their heads the same as one might hold a sword in victory after a long gruesome battle, and all shouted out in unison. ''Today we honor you our brothers and sisters in arms, may your names be spoken only with honor and may you find peace within the arms of the Goddesses!'' They all then held out their torches and lit the pyres.

As the oil coated wood burned the men and women moved back to their original places. Venrik put his arm around Iliana as she began to sob. Quickly others began to cry or attempted to choke back their tears.

Midna could feel her mother's hand grasp her own as her breaths began to shake and her tears from last night returned as she watched the pyre Venrik had lit burned. The one that symbolized her best friend.

''I do not know what you feel at this moment.'' Her Mother said quietly. ''But when I held this ceremony for your father I felt as if part of myself died with him, and I knew it would be a part that I would never get back as long as I lived.''

Midna began to cry.

Once the pyres had burned down to nothing but ash and a few smoldering logs the crowd began to slowly disperse while offering condolences to others as they left.

Xanza tossed his torch into one of the ash piles and left without looking anyone in the eye or allowing them to speak to him. He now walked with a small limp in his right leg. Just before he disappeared from sight some could see the Captain grab his flask from his belt and take a long plentiful drink before wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

Vezzna looked to her daughter. ''Do you wish to return inside?''

The younger royal wiped a tear from her cheek. ''There is someone I need to speak with first.'' She then met her mother's gaze. ''I will be alright.''

The Queen's hand reluctantly released it's hold on her daughter's. ''I would like you to come see me later...please.''

Midna nodded. Vezzna then slowly moved around the courtyard offering hand shakes and kind words to everyone she passed.

From across the courtyard Midna Caught Sebin's gaze. The High Sorcerer stood with his hand on Havid's shoulder, the boy seemed to be in a daze, eyes fixated on the ground.

The Princess approached the two, noticing Havid's mother speaking to another Twili woman nearby. ''Sebin, Havid.'' She greeted somberly .

''Your Highness.'' Sebin greeted in response in a hollow voice. Havid remained silent, eyes still downcast.

Midna and Sebin both looked down at the boy. The former knelt down to be eye level with the would be Sorcerer. ''How do you fare, Havid?''

''I-I can't sleep.'' The boy began to sob. ''I keep seeing them. The masks, the boars, the-the blood.'' His sobs became so hard that the boy could no longer speak coherently.

Midna wrapped her arms around him and tried to shush his cries, while Sebin stood behind his nephew and held his shoulders.

Havid's mother practically ran to him upon hearing his cries. Midna stepped away so the woman could take her place holding her son.

The Royal gave a concerned look at the High Sorcerer, who gave a small nod of his head in response as if to say. ''We will look after him.''

Midna nodded her head in understanding then began moving through the crowd in search of one person in particular. But was stopped when Casdin and Kul approached her. The two men bowed and she returned the gesture.

''How are you feeling your Highness?'' Casdin asked.

Midna thought for a moment. ''I don't mean to be rude, but I'm not really in the mood to speak of my well being.''

''Of course. When you are please seek me out.''

''He was a good lad.'' Kul spoke to her cutting off any reply she may have had for the doctor. ''He spoke of ye often.''

Midna stared at the two men for a moment before wiping at her eyes then hugging the two. The men returned her comforting gesture and moved on. Midna was stopped twice more by people she didn't know offering their condolences before she came to the one she had been seeking out.

Iliana and Venrik stood speaking to Zant, the councilman was wearing one of the ceremonial headdresses that the council would wear upon certain occasions. His was a tall pointed helmet like thing with ridges on the back decorated with symbols, while the front was decorated with an almost humorously proportioned face complete with a large sharp pointed nose, bulbous eyes and a long curved tongue at the bottom. As odd looking as it was it matched his coat with the tasseled sleeves rather well.

The Councilman bowed his head to the two and then approached Midna after noticing her from the corner of his vision. ''Your Highness,'' He spoke with a bow. ''I wish to offer you my deepest condolences. I shall not lie, I was never overly fond of the Hyli- I mean of Link...but he was an honorable man and he served the kingdom faithfully. And that in of itself is deserving of respect.''

Midna paused. There was an odd hitch in the man's voice, similar to numerous others. She knew very well the extents of how much the Councilman disliked her friend, if asked she would have even said that perhaps he hated Link. But there was no sign of dishonesty in his words, he had even admitted himself that he and the Hylian had not been overly friendly. His words had come across as so genuine that it had dumbfounded her. ''Zant, are you...alright?''

The Sorcerer took in a deep shaking breath, she knew then for certain that he was trying to restrain himself from crying. ''Several of my friends were part of the expedition. None of them came back.''

A wave of shock enveloped her. She had never spent a great deal of time with Zant in a social sense so she had never learned whom Zant chose to spend his free time with. He had always come across as a rather antisocial individual, but now to hear that he had lost not one friend but numerous of them left her dazed. He was mourning the same as countless others in this courtyard but felt he needed to keep a presence of a rational and level headed politician, to set an example of how to conduct themselves in dark times to his peers. And one of the ways he had chosen to do so was to show compassion and respect for the ones whom had passed even ones he himself had just admitted to not overly caring for.

Midna stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his thin chest. Zant returned the embrace and quietly sobbed as his hands clung to her back. Fresh tears rolled down the Princess' cheeks as she felt his chest hitch.

After an unknown amount of time the two separated but found that they held each others hands in their own. ''Thank you, Midna.''

''I am truly sorry for your loss, Zant.'' The Sorcerer gave her hands a final affectionate squeeze then walked past her back towards the palace.

Midna watched the retreating man for a moment longer before approaching the grieving woman being supported by the General of her mother's army. ''Iliana?''

The older woman turned to face the young royal, and Midna grimaced at the sight of her. If one were to observe Midna's appearance they would be able to tell that she had slept and ate very little the past two days and had cried for an unknown amount of time before sleeping the previous night, but Iliana looked like she had not slept, eaten or stopped crying since she had heard of her son's passing. Whereas Venrik seemed the same as he had on any normal day, the only noticeable difference was the look of concern in his eyes that was solely directed at the woman he kept his arm around.

''Your Highness,'' Iliana choked. ''Thank you for being here.''

''Please no titles, not today.'' Midna pleaded.

Iliana nodded her head slowly as she wiped her nose with a handkerchief. ''If that is what you wish.''

The young royal felt her heart break for the older woman. Every word, expression, movement of her body expressed the pain she felt. After taking a deep breath the Princess took the article of clothing from under her arm and presented it the grieving mother with both hands.

Iliana's breath hitched. ''His poncho?''

''I felt I should return it to you.'' Midna said.

Iliana stepped forward and felt the fabric with both hands, she closed her eyes and took in a deep shaking breath. Her eyes opened, her hands moved to rest atop the poncho and she smiled sadly at Midna. ''Keep it. I think he would have wanted you to have it.''

The Princess' eyes widened slightly. ''Are-are you certain?''

Iliana nodded as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. ''My son was very fond of you, Midna.''

She choked down her tears as she replied. ''I was...very fond of him too.''

The two women embraced each other. Iliana began to sob again, while Midna shed a few silent tears. Once the two separated Venrik stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Iliana's

shoulders, he bowed his head to the Royal and silently led the crying woman away.

Midna stood for a moment staring down at the poncho in her hands. She wiped away her tears with her sleeve just as one of the council members came to offer their words of support.

Midna's attention was drawn to someone she recognized as she walked back to the palace, she steeled herself and approached the woman standing alone before the remains of a pyre, torch in hand scowling down at the embers before her. ''Aran?''

''Your Highness.'' Aran replied in a monotone manner not moving her eyes from the glowing red orbs covered in ash.

The Princess shifted awkwardly, she knew Aran only in passing and had only spoken to her a handful of times in the past usually when Link had been present. ''I wanted to offer my condolences, I know you and Link were...close.''

The Knight's scowl deepened. ''He's not dead.''

Midna's jaw fell open at the sheer finality in the woman's voice. ''What?''

Aran tossed her torch into the remains of the pyre giving the fading flames a touch more fuel. ''I refuse to believe he's dead. Link has survived things you and I could only imagine, and I'm supposed to believe that a sandstorm was what ended him?''

The Royal averted her gaze, wishing she could believe the same. ''Xanza-''

''I don't care what he thought he saw!'' Aran interrupted, turning to look the other woman in the eye, there was no sign of grief in her face, rather what she expressed was a look of disgust, as if the very notion that the people around her thought that her friend was dead sickened her. ''Link is a survivor, always has been. So I refuse to believe he is dead, and I will continue to do so until I see his corpse with my own eye and it is laid down upon one of these pyres.''

Midna watched as Aran stuck her hands into her trouser pockets and marched off. ''I wish I held your conviction.'' The Princess muttered to herself as she watched the other Woman's retreating form.

Several more people, some she knew and some she did not approached the Princess as she made her way back into the palace. She smiled slightly when she saw her three new friends awaiting her on the landing. The three women hugged Midna simultaneously, which evoked a small noise between a laugh and a sob from the Princess.

''How are you?'' Anju asked when they all separated but still stood close together.

''I feel...I don't know how to put it into words.'' Midna spoke, her eyes downcast.

''We understand.'' Cremia spoke softly. ''Take your time.''

''And we will be here for when you need us.'' Orielle added.

Midna sniffled then hugged each one of her friends. ''Thank you. But I think I need to be along now.''

No more words were spoken, the three magic students watched their friend retreat into the palace. Each one in their own way giving a silent prayer for her well being.

The one within the chest was lost in thought. It felt the sorrow, mourning and misery of the several dozens of people far above it's prison. It's disciple had not appeared in several days leaving the Entity at a loss as to what had caused the wave of negative emotions that echoed throughout the palace. That was truly one of the greatest things that infuriated the Entity. It could reach out and touch its disciple but it could not hear or see anything beyond the room it was imprisoned within. And if the one it had chosen to take under its wing failed to appear it meant that any useful information could be lost to it.

It would call to its disciple tonight, perhaps it could use what ever had sparked the deep negative emotions to its advantage.

After all grief, pain and misery were all things that could easily be exploited for ones own gain.

Midna wandered into the library. It was dark inside, no lamps were lit leaving the glass doors to the balcony as the only source of faint light. Midna walked through the empty room, passed the high shelves of scrolls and tomes.

She removed her veil and dropped it onto the table in the rooms center, she took a moment to look at the seat across from her. She could almost see him. A boy trying to learn the alphabet, a teen just reaching puberty asking what certain words meant, a young man tracing the lines of a book with his fingers to not lose his place while he read.

She gripped the poncho tighter to her chest.

A cold wind greeted her when she stepped out onto the balcony. And again she could almost see the boy sitting on the ground taking his very first sip of milk, a young teenager who's voice would occasionally crack when he talked eating his lunch and talking animatedly, a young man laughing at the story she just had told him before taking a sip of a tankard filled with ale.

This had been their place, but now she wasn't sure what it was supposed to be without him.

She sat down and leaned her back against the balcony railing, the poncho was unfolded and placed upon her lap. Her hands would occasionally travel across it as if they were stroking a pet.

Her eyes looked to the dense clouds in the sky, thick tears rolled down her cheeks, the breaths she drew in through her nose were labored and shaky.

You're my best friend, Midna and I don't want to lose you.

You know I would do anything for you.

I just didn't think you would look so different in the sunlight.

It's better then I could have ever dreamed. Because you're with me.

Wow, Midna, you look...wow.

Midna? Are we friends?

There were so many things she wished she could have told him. How much she enjoyed spending her days beside him, how deeply she worried for him when he grew sick, that his laugh was one of the sweetest things she had ever heard, that feeling the warmth of his body when she hugged him made her feel safer than having an army of guards at her beck and call, the feeling of his hand in her own had always made her smile, how deeply she lo-

No, to admit that to herself now felt like it could break her beyond repair. She pressed her eyes shut hard enough to see stars. When she opened her eyes the spots in her vision reminded her of the Gerudo night sky.

She desperately wanted to believe the same thing Aran did, but her heart could not commit to such a fantasy.

Her own personal piece of sunlight was gone. Taking the warmth and color of the lands with him.

And so she now sat alone, in the cold.

This is not the end. there is still much more to come.

I hope to see you all in the next chapter.