Time Cannot Erase Chapter 21

You’re beautiful, it’s true
But it’s time to face the truth
I will never be with you
~James Blunt “You’re Beautiful”

Chapter 21
The Proposal

Marth led Zelda to one of the tallest, most secluded towers in the castle. He walked to the parapets and stood silently for a moment, thinking about what he would say. In the distance he could see the ocean, shimmering of deep blue. The moonlight caught each ripple of the waves as they rolled onto the shore, the white foam gleaming like silver in the night. Ever so faintly he could hear the sound of the waves rolling in and dashing back out in their gentle, beautiful rhythm.

When he did turn to her, however, he wasn’t expecting to see what he did. Though her face was impassive and her eyes calm, tears were running down her cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know,” she replied calmly, though the tears continued to fall. “I’ve never seen the ocean before. It’s… it’s beautiful,” she said softly, her voice still utterly tranquil. “But this is wrong,” she turned to him now. “Something’s wrong.”

“What?” he asked in bewilderment.

“Something’s missing,” she whispered. “I was hoping that… he promised me… so long ago…” she trailed off. Slowly the tears began to fade and she brushed them away with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” she said, but Marth was staring at her, stunned. “What?” she asked tentatively.

“Oh, nothing,” Marth cleared his throat and shifted a little nervously. The symbol of the Triforce was glowing on the back of her hand! He had seen it clearly!

What did that mean though? For one, it was proof that she held a piece of the Triforce: real proof before his very eyes.

He had read it in her account- when she and Link and Ganondorf had come together the Triforce symbol had appeared on the back of their hands. She had written something about the pieces resonating… calling to each other.

He didn’t understand what it meant, but he felt suddenly nervous and yet oddly bolstered.

Zelda turned away from him a little uneasily. She leaned against the parapet, watching the waves silently for a long while, and Marth was content to stand beside her, lost in a myriad of his own thoughts.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said after a few silent minutes, completely unabashed, and put his arm around her.

Zelda looked both slightly embarrassed and a little skeptical. She had been up for hours working non-stop. She hadn’t had time to clean herself up much. Her hair was not nearly as smooth and well groomed as usual. She was tired and drawn and weary and couldn’t imagine that she really looked anything close to beautiful at the moment. “A Prince shouldn’t lie,” she replied with a small grin.

“Modest as ever,” Marth chuckled, “but you are beautiful, Zelda.” In the cool darkness his mind began to clear, and when he finally spoke once more his voice was steady and sure.

Marth was looking at her in wonderment, and yet there it was again: sorrow. He let her out of his grasp, stepping away from her slightly.

“Marth, is something wrong?” she asked him softly.

He took a moment to answer. He found it so difficult to look her in the eyes anymore. When he did all he could see was the trust be had betrayed. All he could think about was the plan he was hatching around her with every passing minute. He wished it hadn’t gone so far; that he hadn’t grown so attached.

His love for Aritia did not stop him from loving her, from telling himself he could never really hurt her- no matter what it came to. Even so, his love for her did not stop him from continuing his plan to use her to save Aritia, even if it meant using force.

Still, he was afraid- afraid that he couldn’t go through with it if worst came to worst. That was why he couldn’t let it come to that point. He had to make her love him in return. It was the only way to save her.

“I just want to know why you came here,” he blurted out, immediately cursing himself. Why did he have to make this harder than it already would be?

Zelda deliberated a moment and realized that she trusted him. She knew she could tell him the truth. “When you asked me to come… the only reason I left was to get away from Hyrule,” she replied frankly, “but that is not why I have stayed. I have come to love your people. I know that danger is upon us here, but I cannot stand to leave your people now. They have given me so much…”

“What have you received from us?” Marth asked in awe. “You have given everything to us these last days.”

Zelda deliberated for a moment, “I’ve always known I was a Princess. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know,” she said, and Marth wondered where she was going. “I lived in a palace, I was pampered, I was privileged, every thing I wanted I got. Everything I asked for was given to me. I thought being Royalty was great fun, nothing more- but I was about six years old when my Mother sat me down and explained to me what it truly meant. She told me that being Royalty did not mean that my people should serve me; it meant that I should serve my people. I have never forgotten those words. She died not long after….

“I promised myself that from that moment on I would do everything in my power to rule my people for their benefit- that I would serve my people with all that I have, as my mother did. I have lived by that promise. I will serve my people here. My loyalty does not change because we are at war, or that I may be in danger.”

‘My people’? Had he just heard her correctly?

She watched him closely, and her answer only seemed to distress Marth more, and Zelda said nothing else on the subject.

“Is that the only reason you stay?” he asked suddenly. Marth was clearly agitated by something. He was fidgety and nervous and acting very unusual.

Zelda tensed, sensing now where this was heading. She did not answer.

“I want to thank you for your help,” Marth said, more calmly now, “but I must know…”

“Please,” Zelda implored. “Let’s not do this now.”

“Are you happy here?” he asked bluntly.

“Yes,” she replied, sounding guarded. “That is why it will be so difficult to leave once this war is over.” Her eyes fell to the ground, unable to meet his. She couldn’t lie to him.

“You- you want to leave?” Marth sounded crushed.

“I must go home,” she replied. “I cannot stay here forever. This is not my home.”

“It could be.”

“I have responsibilities,” Zelda was growing anxious. “I can’t just leave and never go back! What about Impa? What about my father?”

“Your father,” Marth spat. “Is that the real reason?” he shot back, obviously wounded. “Are you sure it isn’t for *him*?”

“Who?” Zelda asked.

Without reply Marth reached into his pocket and pulled out something wrapped in a fine cloth. “I want to give you this,” he said, unwrapping it quickly he exposed a golden chain upon which hung a pendant of opal and diamonds arranged so that they looked like a shimmering starburst.

“It’s beautiful,” Zelda gasped.

“It was my Mother’s,” Marth hurried on. “It has been in our family for a thousand years- passed down for generations. Only the Queen of Aritia may wear this necklace. Please,” he held the necklace out to her, but she stepped back slowly.

“I’m going to have to leave, Marth. I have to go home,” Zelda replied sadly. “I cannot accept this.”

“Yes, you can. You can sit beside me on the throne! You can become Queen, here, in Aritia. You can stand at my side, help us through this war…. You said so yourself, you have come to love my people. If that is true then stay here- forever!”

“I cannot live a lie,” Zelda spoke quietly and sadly.

Marth stopped dead, his expression shattered. “I thought you- I thought-“ he stammered.

“I cannot give you what you seek,” she continued unwillingly, but knowing that she had to tell him the truth.

Marth stared at her for a moment, his expression growing angry. “What can he give you?!” he finally asked. “What can he offer you?”

“Who?” Zelda furrowed her brow. What was he talking about?

This seemed to only frustrate Marth more. Why did she have to play games?

“What could be better than serving people who love you? My people admire you, Zelda. They respect you! They adore you! You could be their queen, sitting on the throne beside a man who loves you- who would do anything for you! I want you to stay, with me. I don’t want you to go back. Marry me,” he nearly pleaded.

He needed her, and he didn’t care about the consequences. His hand shot out and touched hers, just to be near her, pulling her close, bringing her lips closer to his.

He cared too much, he realized. He truly loved her. He never thought he could care for someone so much as he did for her… he never meant for it to go this far, but he was unwilling to stop it.

As his hand brushed her skin her eyes filled with pain: genuine physical suffering. With a short cry of utter agony she jerked her hand away from his, cradling it as though she had been burned.

“No!” she cried.

Marth felt as though she had kicked him. “Why?” he blurted, walking towards her, trying to take her hand again, but even as his finger touched hers she flinched in pain and cried out in agony.

In her mind flashed images, one after the other as sharp and quickly as lightning: of death, carnage, suffocating darkness, blood upon the ground and the cries of nameless souls in pain.

And then she saw it. Upon the ground lay the body of a man, broken, bleeding and dying: for her. She could not see his face, it was covered in shadow- but she knew he was dead. Somehow, in the depths of her soul she knew he was dead, and the sight of it nearly ripped her heart out.

She watched him bleeding until she could take it no more. She turned, only to see a wave of flames rushing at her: consuming her.

The heat overcame her and she screamed. When she opened her eyes she was still screaming, but all she could see before her was Marth, looking back at her in confusion and worry.

“No,” she cried once more, jerking away. Then, looking at Marth’s shattered face, she replied more calmly, though still panting slightly. “I cannot.”

“Why?” he asked again, this time in defeat.

“I can’t stay here,” she replied, her eyes wide and terrified. “I should never have come!”

“That’s not true!”

“You must let me go!”

“But…” he sputtered, “you said that you wanted to stay, that you were happy here, that you want to help my people.”

“I do want to help them… that’s why I must leave!”

“I don’t understand!” Marth shook his head in frustration and defeat.

“If I stay here people will be hurt. You will be hurt!” The change in her had been instant and bewildering.

Marth stood, puzzling for a moment. “You have seen this?” he asked quietly.

She stared back at him, silent, her breathing sharp- her chest rising and falling dramatically. “Yes,” she said reluctantly.

Marth deliberated for a moment. “Maybe you are mistaken-“

“No,” she replied sharply. “You don’t understand,” she went on. “I’ve never had a prophecy like this before. I usually have dreams which show me shadows of what is to come. They are vague: shrouded in imagery. This was different. Completely different.”

“If you stay, I swear I will not let anything happen to you.”

“It is not my safety I fear for,” she replied bluntly, her eyes piercing him.

“I am in charge of my own destiny,” Marth burst, “and so are you! Stay with me!”

“No, Marth,” she replied forcefully. “I have to go back home.”

He grew suddenly frustrated, “What do you have to go back to? Your father, who treats you as though you are worthless? Your people, who look at you and see at best someone innocent but slightly deranged and at worst a corrupted liar? Link? He has abandoned you! Impa? She cannot protect you anymore. You are unappreciated, left to sit on a throne like a porcelain doll, too delicate to touch. You are all alone there! If you go back, you will have nothing-“ he cut off at the look on her face. There were no tears. The pain on her face seemed beyond tears.

Instantly remorse took him. He wanted to ease her suffering, to take her into his arms and take her pain from her, if only she would let him. “Zelda, please-“ he stepped towards her but she put out a hand and stepped back.

“No, Marth,” she repeated, her voice had gone so cold, so dead that it cut him to the core. Her eyes were full of remorse. “I must go home. I’m sorry.”

She knew he was right. Hyrule held nothing for her. The knowledge of what awaited her upon her return left her cold and terribly miserable. She didn’t want to go back. She would give anything to stay and see out this war, as she had promised to do, but she knew now that it was a selfish desire. If she truly wanted to help them she had to leave them.

They stood in silence for a moment. “Please,” she finally pleaded.

He couldn’t stand to cause her such distress.

Finally Marth sighed, his eyes full of pain, “All right,” he nodded slowly. “I’ll take you home, but not tonight. It’s late… get some sleep and in the morning I’ll take you home. I promise.”

“I’m so sorry, Marth,” Zelda replied. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

He couldn’t reply. He had never felt anything quite like this before. He sat down on the parapet and stared down at the ground, has face falling into shadow. Zelda stood for a moment, then finally turned and silently left the tower.

He didn’t understand. He had tried to make her happy. Why couldn’t she see that he loved her? Why couldn’t she love him back?

She couldn’t leave! He had brought her to Aritia for a purpose, though his emotions had clouded that purpose long ago. Still, if she left they would have little if any hope.

“How touching… how tragic,” a stinging voice rang from one of the corridors. Marth’s head flew up and he looked into the shadows. Even as he watched a dozen figures emerged out of the darkness and stepped into view. “I do not believe I have ever witnessed such a display in all my life.”

“What do you want, Alan?” Marth growled as his Captain sauntered over, his soldiers in tow. Marth felt like a wild animal on the verge of madness. It was bad enough to be rejected so adamantly, but having a dozen people witness it was too humiliating to bear.

“I believe a more fitting question is, why are you wasting your time pining over that little-“

“Silence!” Something inside Marth snapped. He grabbed Alan by the shoulders and slammed him against the nearest wall. “Watch your tongue!”

Immediately Alan’s soldiers had their swords drawn.

“What is this?” Marth hissed at Alan. “Mutiny? You think to overthrow me… to exceed my power? I am through with your malcontent, Alan!”

“Now-“ Alan started, but he was cut off quickly.

“I thought I might find you here,” from the shadows Roy’s voice rang out. With an expression of contempt he drew his blade and made his way toward Marth.

“I overheard them,” Roy flamed. “They were complaining and murmuring about you; saying that you were a traitor, that you had no plan, that you had abandoned us. They have been moving throughout the castle raising trouble among the men!”

“Is this true?” Marth demanded of Alan. “If you have come here tonight to spread your treachery-“

“We come to talk,” Alan said, his voice choked by Marth’s unrelenting grasp, “We would not dare defy your power… Your Highness.”

With narrowed eyes Marth glanced over the soldiers. Slowly he released Alan, but kept his hand near the hilt of his sword.

“Speak, then,” Marth growled. Alan motioned and the soldiers put their weapons down. Roy, however, stood tensely at Marth’s side, his blade dropping only slightly.

“There are some of us,” Alan continued scornfully, “who have doubts about your plan to win victory over our enemies.”

“You have no need to doubt,” Marth said, his voice not faltering.

“Forgive me, but under my leadership Aritia fought with valor and courage- every soldier uniting to protect our home. We did not rely on the foolhardy plans and silly superstitions to-“

“Aritia is no longer under your command, Alan,” Marth thundered. “So we come to it finally. This is why you have come: to seek to regain your position! To supplant me!”

“I come to defend Aritia!” Alan roared back. “I will not let my home fall because our prince is infatuated with some girl he claims will help us! She is not Aritian! What stake does she hold in all this?! How can you place the fate of our entire Kingdom in the hands of one being? We can win this battle on our own!”

“Do not presume that you care for or hold more faith in Aritia than I,” Marth hissed. “Everything I do is for Aritia!”

Marth and Alan locked eyes. Marth was silent for a moment. He was infuriated by the lack of respect and the traitorous behaviors of Alan and his followers. However, he could not afford to lose them. They had precious few soldiers left. If there was anything he could do to keep his army united behind him, he had to do it; and so he resisted the urge to banish them all from his sight and decided to try and salvage what was left.

“My plan will work,” Marth assured them, “but I need you behind me.”

“We would love nothing more than to find confidence in our General,” Alan replied, “but it is becoming more and more difficult. You kidnapped her, you say. How does that explain what we saw just moments ago? If I am not mistaken I saw you sniveling at her feet like a dog, begging her to marry you.”

Marth’s face was suddenly becoming a menacing shade of red and his fists were balling tightly.

“From what I just saw,” Alan continued in a disgusted tone, “the girl has demanded to be taken home, and, if I am not mistaken, you promised to escort her back tomorrow morning.”

Marth’s heart dropped. In the shock of the blow he had forgotten that Zelda’s departure meant much more than heartbreak for himself. The most crucial part of his plot had been destroyed. Zelda would no longer stay in Aritia by choice… so he had no alternative than to keep her there by force. Though he had planned on that possibility from the very beginning the thought of it now made him sick.

“She will not be going home,” he replied stoically, though it killed him inside to say it. “Since she refuses to comply and remain here by her own free will, she will be compelled to stay.”

“All right,” Alan spoke, “men, let us take her into custody. She cannot be allowed to leave.” Alan’s men began drawing weapons and Alan himself started from the tower.

“No!” Marth cried, jumping in front of them.

“Just as I thought,” Alan snarled. “You don’t mean a word you have said. I do not know whether you ever intended to go through with this plan, but it is clear now that you are far too invested in that girl to do what must be done. Whatever you once planned to do with her has obviously been lost… you have been blinded by the weakness of your emotions.”

With a roar of rage Marth’s fist balled, swung and landed across Alan’s nose. As Alan’s figure began to sink Marth grabbed hold of him once more and slammed him into a wall. “You will not speak to me with such disrespect!” Marth thundered. “I brought her here and I will keep her here! Do you not understand? You and your soldiers cannot contend with her! If you storm after her now she will destroy you and all of our hopes will be dashed!

“You will not touch her!” Marth bellowed. “I will take care of this, my way! She will come to the courtyard tomorrow morning, and I will be there. Fifty men will be positioned on the upper levels surrounding the courtyard, all armed, awaiting MY COMMAND before taking her into custody. I will subdue her, and not a soul will move before I give the order, or it will be YOUR head, Alan! Do you understand me?!”

As his voice faded silence fell. Every soldier stared at Marth in awe, as though afraid to reply. Alan seemed to have shrunk under Marth’s retribution.

“Do you understand me?” Marth repeated in barely a whisper.

“Yes, Sire,” the reply came quickly from every mouth this time.

“One more act of rebellion, one more defiant remark or even one hint of insubordination and those found guilty will be exiled from Aritia, and may heaven help them before the Akanean army comes upon them. I am your Prince, and I will have your allegiance! Is that clear?”

“Yes, Sire,” the soldiers repeated.

“Good.” Marth released Alan who sunk to the floor, wiping blood from his nose and looking morose. Without another word Marth took his leave of the tower, with Roy right behind him.

“Boy, I’m glad I’m on your side!” Roy said when they were out of earshot.

Marth made no reply.

“You won’t really hurt her, will you?” Roy asked tentatively.

“She will come to no harm.”

“What are you going to do then? If she doesn’t want to stay then how are you going to make her? If she won’t give you the Triforce, what can you do?”

Marth stopped walking, leaning against a pillar and burying his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to do, Roy. If I let her go we’re right back where we started. If I make her stay it would take every one of our men to subdue her. She will fight back. Soldiers will be hurt. She wouldn’t make it out unscathed. We would have to lock her up... and I don’t know if we could hold her. She’d never give up the Triforce after all that,” he sighed. “It doesn’t really matter though. I could never do that to her.”

“You really love her, don’t you,” it was extremely unusual for Roy to be so serious- to wish to be confided in.

“Yes, I do,” he replied.

“Then why don’t you just let her go. This isn’t her fight.”

Marth deliberated carefully, not speaking.

“We can do this on our own,” Roy continued. There was no boastful pride or arrogance in his voice. He was speaking with more sincerity than Marth had ever heard him use before.

“I’ve made such a mess of things,” Marth cursed himself. “I never should have brought her here. I never should have started any of this.”

“It isn’t too late to fix it,” Roy said simply.

“And destroy everything I’ve worked for? My entire plan, every last hope: just abandon it? I’ve already done so much damage…” he trailed off, guilt taking him.

Marth was silent for a long while. A chill wind swept through the corridor. A patch of clouds moved over the moon, leaving the night even darker and more ominous than before.

“I can’t do it, Roy,” he said finally. “I can’t do this to her.”

A sense of relief washed over Roy. Despite himself, he had truly come to like Zelda. “Just let her go,” he said once more, “for her sake.”

Marth nodded silently. “Then there will be Alan to contend with.”

“We can deal with Alan, the double crossing little scumbag,” Roy grumbled.

“Yes,” Marth’s voice had lowered menacingly once more. “I can deal with him.” Power had reentered Marth’s countenance. His eyes were narrowed and he rose to his full stature. Standing in the moonlight he looked large and incredibly strong and terribly intimidating. “This is my Kingdom and my people. I will protect them, and anyone who protests will face my wrath! No one will stand in my way!”

“Boy, you sure can be scary sometimes…” Roy replied warily.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Marth growled, and Roy fell silent, confident that Marth was right.