In the beginning of Twilight’s invasion of Hyrule, Princess Zelda stood strong. She held her sword beside her soldiers, and she was ready to face whatever darkness dared to break into her kingdom. The shadow of the beast of the Twili proved their might too strong, their darkness overbearing, and their will a force to be reckoned with. They took down knights left, right and center. The steel of the soldiers’ blades were useless and their skills too slow. When the Usurper King Zant strode through her hall, Princess Zelda knew her options were limited. “Life or death,” Zant threatened. And so, Princess Zelda made the toughest call of them all: she surrendered, releasing her sword and giving in to the darkness. Because maybe, just maybe, she could save her people from the death the shadows promised.
Twilight Princess is one of the darkest contributions to the Zelda series. In the very first act, we see Princess Zelda and the whole of Hyrule lose. Darkness spreads across the lands, keeping everyone in perpetual twilight and showing us a world where light cannot thrive. Princess Zelda is a prisoner within her own castle and must live every day accepting the truth: she failed her people. Artist Bellhenge captured the sorrowful emotions the young matriarch must have been feeling as she sits alone in her tower and is forced to watch as her citizens become lost spirits cowering under the darkness.
Bellhenge’s artwork titled “We Lost” is a monochrome close-up portrait of Princess Zelda in her hooded attire. The lack of color mirrors not only the forever darkness that has consumed her world but also the sadness within her heart, and the guilt raging inside of her. A single tear falls down her cheek — the only part of her that she will let fall. Imprisoned, captured, fallen, many would expect her to succumb to her new fate. But Zelda is still a princess and she must not let her true emotions show. She must be ready to stand up again when she finds a way to fight back.
While the piece reflects a greyscale world drained of all color, the use of shadows and dark tones creates room for the smallest of lights. The lightest shades of grey are found on Princess Zelda’s face. Perhaps this was a simple artistic choice to mirror the lighting of the room Zelda stands in, but maybe there’s more to it. Bellhenge could have just as easily casted Princess Zelda in shadow but instead choose to have that little bit of light remain. Behind those closed eyes, a strength remains. A resilience that upholds her strength. Princess Zelda may have lost this battle but the war is not over yet.
