Chapter 19
Link gazes over sheer stone walls, fascinated the Temple of Time has changed so little over the centuries.
Right on cue, there's a burst of light as a gorgeous young woman with long blonde tresses appears beside the Master sword just as Link wanders into the chambers. Warm sapphire eyes seem to linger on her, a few seconds to long, just before she opens her mouth to speak. She introduces herself as Zelda.
Link searches her face for… something. She receives only a puzzled smile in return.
Despite herself Link can’t help but feel the familiar thrum across her chest when Sheik… or is it Zelda? So hard to tell. Zelda holds her hands in Link’s and announces that she has a destiny. She’s the hero of legend. The great saviour come to free them all.
So many conflicting emotions in that performance, and the show is merely for her benefit.
Link senses right away that Sheik knows her – but only in the most superficial sense. Perhaps she feels some affinity, deep down, and distantly the princess knows who she is. There's blind determination, and that's nothing new. But when Link looks beneath the surface of those cerulean eyes there’s only a lifetime worth of memories there. The old soul that resides within Sheik is buried, somewhere deep in darkness. Link can’t bring it out for him. She’s not sure if she wants to.
The speech is genuine, heart-felt and moving. Everything Link’s heard before and likely will again.
Hero of Time. Hero of Light. Hero of Wind. Link’s been called them all. With warm hands clasping her own she is given yet another.
But another title makes little difference to her sense of self. Indeed, the mark of the Triforce burns like a brand, binding Link to her fate. The small spark in her chest dies out.