"I curse Ganondorf, for starting this conflict that forces you into the role that prevents you from being mine, and I bless him for the exact same thing. I curse Zelda for sending you into peril, and I bless her for the exact same thing. Because for all the suffering their actions have caused us, without them we would never have met. So know this, my Beloved Prince: I am afraid I will forever hate whoever, man or woman, claims these rough fingers for themselves. I wish that never happens - because at least then I can love you from a distance, without feeling like an intruder on another's happiness. I wish it happens as soon as possible - because then I will know who to hate, for taking you from me. But for all that your role as the divine Hero forces you to leave me, for all that my heart feels like shards of sharp glass in my chest, I will always prefer to have loved you rather than to not have known you."

All of this she thought, as she cradled his calloused hands to her cheek. But none of this she said out loud. For grief does not need to be cruel and she knew this moment was bitter enough for both. So she took it all in and committed one last gesture of love to memory. The feel of his warmth against her face. Rough fingers with such unexpected gentleness.

---

As I said in the WIP version of this, "Heartbreak", I feel sorry for Ruto. Granted I am most assuredly reading too much into the game, and as a child the situation interested me none - I just wanted to go back to exploring. But I feel it is a very sad situation, that she promises herself to Link only for circumstances to force them apart. Because the World is cruel. And because this is an adventure game for children, where romance and character development are, understandably, not important.

But it is still such a missed opportunity.

The hands look weird, still, but I'll let it slide this time.