5) Betrayal, Contest Submission Thread

[Existence: DENIED]

Thread for submitting all drabbles under the theme 'Betrayal' .

[Angel Zelda]

Zelink Theme #5: Betrayal
Title: A Broken Promise
Words: 113

Zelda crumpled the note a royal messenger had just given to her.

It told her that her husband, Link, had been killed in the war.

The Queen of Hyrule sank to her knees. Her eyes closed. Her face was expressionless, but many emotions were racing through her head.

Denial, shock, hurt, anger, confusion, sadness...

But most of all, Zelda felt as though Link had betrayed her.

You promised me you would come back...Why did you have to die, Link?

Tears flooded Zelda’s eyes, and she didn’t bother to stop them from falling.

Link was dead. And nothing was going to change that, no matter how much Zelda wished it was so.

[Alantie]

Theme #5: Betrayal
Words: 427
Title: Not Her

It was as if his heart had frozen inside his chest and shattered. This couldn’t be happening. But it was, and there was no time for denial. He was deaf to Midna’s shouts from behind the barrier, all his attention focused on the once beautiful face that had haunted his dreams since the first time he had seen her, now corrupted by the evil spirit inside of her.

Thin strands of dark magic crisscrossed her entire body, painting over fair skin like an onyx web strangling her. The once sky colored eyes now glowed a sickly yellow, glittering with hate and malice as they glared at him.

‘It’s not her,’ his heart whispered to him desperately even as she walked toward him, a glittering sword clasped in her right hand. ‘You know it. That isn’t her in that body, only an evil man’s soul. You have to fight him!’

But still Link hesitated; how could he hurt her? This was the Princess he had pledged his life to protect; this was the woman who had shown both him and Midna unfailing kindness and aid. Hers were the sapphire orbs that had stared into his wolfish face without fear, only sorrow that this had happened to him because of her.

A crackling orb of yellow energy was unleashed at him, and instinctively he sent it flying back at its source with a quick flash of his blade. His foe was caught unaware, screaming out a distorted roar of rage that in no way could ever have come from her melodic voice.

‘Zelda. . .’

Though it shredded him apart, he fought, numbing his body and heart enough to face her puppet form. He tried his best to keep from doing permanent damage, but he did not know how successful he was. All he could do was to keep fighting to save the land that the Princess loved, even if it meant-

For the third time, another ball of magic was reflected back, and that horrible shriek issued forth, the Princess’ body convulsing as the barrier dropped, and Midna was at last free to act. Link could only watch frozen as she summoned her magic and sent it coiling around their foe, squeezing him from the golden haired woman’s body.

There was a spray of black issuing outward, and then Midna’s syrupy magic retreated, leaving behind the Princess, pure and radiant once more. A surge of relief rushed through Link and he exhaled in a weary sigh, his eyes growing soft as he gazed at her. She was unharmed.

[LZ Angel]

(again, sick of editing...)

Words: 703

When the blinding light was gone, the Hero of Time was greeted by the sight of someone he’d been looking for since he’d first left the Sacred Realm.

“The Holder of the Triforce of Wisdom is me, Princess Zelda,” a soft voice continued, watching Link with her soft blue eyes.

Link stared at the Princess as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, but that was no surprise as he hadn’t seen her in over 7 years. Her pretty features had matured her into an unsurpassed beauty – at least in his eyes. He drank in the sight of her, his relief obvious on his face. Zelda was alive, and safe. That was all that mattered.

“Zelda....is it really you?” Link asked softly, stepping closer to the Princess.

“Yes Link, it’s me,” she replied with a sad smile as she watched him.

Link’s look of delight then faded slightly. “But...how? Why...why didn’t you ever tell me who you were?”

Zelda looked away from him. “I...I couldn’t, Link. I wanted to tell you, oh Goddesses how I wanted to tell you. But I couldn’t. I had to stay secret,” she answered softly, avoiding his piercing blue eyes.

Link frowned, looking hurt now. “But all those times I asked how you were...if you were safe....why didn’t you ever say anything? Couldn’t you at least have said that you were safe? Why did you just say that you weren’t sure?” he asked, his temper rising slightly.

Zelda looked taken aback. “I...I thought you would ask questions that I couldn’t answer...like where I was....”

Link stepped forward again. “No, I wouldn’t have! I would have just been happy to know that you were safe! Do you have any idea how much time I have spent worrying about you? Hours, Zelda! Not a day passed when I didn’t think of you and feel terrified for your safety! Yes, I still would have worried if I knew you were alright, but it would have hurt less! I would have known you were safe! That’s all I needed to know!” he said, practically shouting. He didn’t mean to shout, but he just felt so betrayed.

A lone tear trailed down Zelda’s pale cheek. “I’m sorry Link. I didn’t mean to hurt you – please believe that. I just...I just couldn’t tell you the truth. I....I was afraid.”

Seeing how he had hurt her, Link made an effort to control his anger. “I’m sorry for being so angry Zelda, but you just......I’ve been so worried about you for so long, and then I find out you’ve been safe and beside me the entire time. It’s such a shock and I just feel.....betrayed. Didn’t you trust me with your secret?” he asked, sounding hurt again.

She shook her head quickly. “No Link, of course I trust you. I just couldn’t let you know who I was. In order to help you save my people, I couldn’t be Zelda. I had to hide, no matter how much I wanted to tell you the truth. I hope you understand that. I’m so sorry that I hurt you...but I had no choice!” she said, looking away from him as she tried to stop crying. She’d long imagined their reunion as joyful – she’d never thought that Link would be so hurt by her actions.

Link sighed, stepping forward again until he standing right in front of her. “It still hurts Zelda, but I understand. At least you’re safe now,” he said softly.

She smiled sadly. “Sweet Link, you give everything, and never ask for anything in return. You sacrifice your feelings in order to save my own. Why did you have to be so kind? It would have made my choice easier,” she said softly.

He shrugged. Yes, it still hurt, but he wasn’t going to get mad at her anymore and lose her again. His feelings didn’t matter, as long as she was happy. “I guess it’s just the way I am Zelda. I am so glad that you’re safe,” he said again, and she looked up at him and smiled. Yes, she had basically betrayed him, but he’d rather let her betray him than betray himself by hurting her.