Of all the incarnations of the eponymous princess I’ve seen throughout the Zelda series, the sensitive and inquisitive scholar from Breath of the Wild is the one I feel the most sympathy for. Zelda’s 17 years of life prior to Calamity Ganon’s takeover were filled with more tragedy and heartache than any teenager should be able to lay claim to. Not only did death snatch away almost everyone she ever loved, but she undeservedly bore the weight of responsibility for Hyrule’s destruction at the hands of Calamity Ganon.
And yet, Zelda refused to break, channeling all her incredible strength of spirit into keeping Ganon contained at Hyrule Castle for the next 100 years.
The raw intensity of Zelda’s struggle would be difficult for any artist to encapsulate in a single picture, but TeLinkFan1‘s “Deep within the Malice” is one of those rare pieces that perfectly balances beauty with brutality, as it offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the princess’s very soul.
I don’t think it’s possible to exaggerate just how astounding the composition of this piece is. The bottomless darkness illuminated by an eerie haze of bloody red light is exactly what comes to mind when I imagine entering the belly of a beast, and the parasitic tendrils snaking around Zelda’s body bear an unsettling resemblance to veins.
As the abyss tries to consume our dear princess, her gracefully posed form lies suspended in the air and her inner light continues to keep it at bay. Unbeknownst to her, Link has reached through the darkness to take her by the hand, lending strength in his own quiet, dignified way.
Now, since TeLinkFan1 is a fan of Link and Zelda as a romantic couple, she personally intended for this picture to convey Zelda’s weariness from battling Calamity Ganon, and her ultimate desire to be reunited with Link. However, she also admitted that the picture could be interpreted in many different ways and that she would leave it up to the viewers to decide what it meant to them.
If I had to offer my own interpretation of the picture, I would say that it acts as an incredible visual metaphor for Zelda’s inner turmoil. The princess has been utterly alone for over a century, with only her own thoughts to keep her company. In that isolation, she has been forced to constantly replay the terrible memory of her failure to unlock the sealing power, the failure that she feels directly caused the deaths of the Champions. Zelda is her own worst enemy, as the guilt ensnares her in its web and eats away at her soul.
But before she can completely lose herself to the darkness, Link offers his hand in support, imploring her to let go of the pain and seek forgiveness within. With his help, perhaps she can begin to heal.
TeLinkFan1 has so much lovely artwork in her DeviantArt gallery, so I strongly encourage all of you to go check it out. She is far more dedicated to her craft than I have ever been, and it’s great to go back through her gallery and see how she has evolved over time. I, for one, can’t wait to see what she has in store for us in the future!
