Take me from this shadowy path, show me enlightenment. /Leon

"Oh, father... I'm so sorry..." Leon mumbled to himself as he sat on the large bed in his quarters. He had yet to be moved into the Kings quarters even though he'd been named as the next King. He hadn't wanted too -- not yet, anyways. The coronation was still a few days away, and Leon wanted to think on things before he shuffled all of his stuff around into a larger, more spacious room meant for two -- The King and Queen. Though Leon had no wife, so there would be no Queen for the moment. It would only be him for now, and eventually whomever he chose to marry.

His thoughts drifted to Crystal for a moment. His steadfast guardian, his loyal protector. His rock, his sword, his shield. She was a perfect compliment to him. While he was polite and soft-spoken, rarely gettijng angry, he sometimes tended to overthink things. He was always thinking. About what he could've done -- should've done. About what he could do in the future. About his sisters, about Crystal, and about all of Hyrule's citizens. How could he help them in this sorry state? Oh, how he wished his father were here to guide him. He needed his fathers wisdom far more than anything else. "Goddesses, help me..." He spoke under his breath, taking a deep sigh through his mouth, before he heard a knock at his door.

He sat up in his bed, ready to send whomever it was away -- Leon wasn't taking most visitors right now. He couldn't afford to let someone he didn't trust see him in his weakened state -- they might try to take the Throne away from him if that were to happen. And he would not allow some stranger to rule over his people or his kingdom. But then, Crystal spoke, blandly stating her name. Leon had noted Crystals change in behavior since his fathers death. She had become more hardened, taking her training to the next level, even more cautious over him than normal.

"Come in." Leon spoke, welcoming Crystal into his room. She was one of the few that he trusted without question.

As Crystal entered the room and asked how Leon was doing, the King of Hyrule sarcastically smirked to himself while she walked over to the window to take her spot. The spot she'd sat in a hundred times -- it was part of the reason Leon made a point to keep that window clean for whenever she was in his room -- which was every day, usually. "I've certainly been better..." Leon spoke, bringing his hands up behind his head and leaning back, his hands laced together to form a makeshift pillow.

"I don't know what I am to do, Crystal..." He began, followed by another deep sigh. "I've always wanted to be King one day, but... I always imagined Father would step down and abdicate to live out his retirement in old age. I never imagined it would be because of... because of this. I'm not sure how I'm to run a Kingdom! Oh, how I wish he were still here to offer me advice..." He said, truly feeling the weight of the world upon his shoulders. Far more than when he'd been a simple guard or military leader. No, now he had to watch over an entire country. The feeling was overwhelming.

Looking up towards Crystal again, he'd speak once more. "How about you? I can tell you've been upset, even if you don't want to show it. Come, sit next to me, would you, please?" He wasn't ordering her, of course. But feeling the touch of a beautiful woman next to him might put his mind at ease for a little, even if only temporarily... and he needed the break.

Leon let out another sigh through his nose at her words, nodding weakly to them. "Yes, I suppose your right." he spoke, his arms unlacing from behind his head, moving to his sides, and then pushing his back up off the table. He scooted back so that he was sitting up straight next to her, looking to her as she spoke about how she was thinking about her duty. He chuckled some. Of course she was. She was always trying to improve herself. "Crystal." Leon spoke, knowing what she was thinking without needing to speak. She was worried about her skills after the King had been slain.

"Your protection got me through that terrible night without so much as a scratch." He spoke, his gloved hand sliding across the smooth bedsheets to meet hers. He'd lightly wrap his fingers around her hand, trying to reassure her of his faith in her. "I trust you with my life. I wouldn't have anyone else at my side. Don't doubt yourself." He continued, smiling. "I wouldn't have you as my guard if I didn't have complete faith in you. Plus, you're pretty nice to look at." He teased, bumping his elbow against hers, trying to get her to laugh. If he could get her to laugh, he knew he'd make her feel better.

Leon chuckled as Crystal laughed. That was good. He was glad she was feeling better about herself, if only for a little bit. She then commented on how he'd went pretty berserk that night too, and Leon let his head nod. "Yes, I... I remember." He spoke, his fingers finding his way between hers, locking with hers, without his even realizing it. "When I saw the bastard assaulting Marianne, I just... I just felt so much rage, and desperation." He looked to her, staring into her red eyes. "I had already lost my mother. I wasn't going to lose my baby sister, too. I want all those under my command, and all citizens of my kingdom to know that as long as I am here, they are safe. I will never abandon those I care about."

He continued to look at her, before smiling again. "Crystal, I have... something to ask of you. This might be a difficult order, but... I can only trust you to do it for me. Will you listen?"

"Should I ever waver from my path..." Leon began, reaching over, sliding his arm over her lap to reach her other hand. He'd pull her other hand closer, so that their hands were both together, one on top of the other. "Should I ever go mad with power, and begin to use my position for the wrong things..." He continued, before bringing her hands to his chest, right where is heart was. Crystal would surely be able to feel the rhythmic beating of his heart. "Should I ever abuse my people. I want you to kill me." He said, staring into her eyes, totally serious. It was going to be his promise to her, and to himself. A promise that he would always remain the good man that he is today. That he would never falter from the light.

"You are my sword. You are my shield." He spoke, bringing his now-free hand to caress her cheek, sliding between her soft skin and her beautiful hair. "And I can only trust you to protect Hyrule from me, should I ever turn down the path of evil."