Chapter 1: The Sacrifice

Chapter 1:  The Sacrifice

    "Breath, honey," Alexander strained his voice, grasping his wife's hand.

    "I am!" Tari gasped, clenching her teeth in pain.

    Nurses were rushing to and fro, bringing warm towels and trying to comfort the laboring woman.

    "Relax," commanded Impa soothingly, smiling at the woman she had known all her

life, "Just in...and out...good."

    Tari felt the pain lessening and breathed deeply.

    "Are you okay?" asked Alexander, worried but happy.

    "What do you think, Alec?!" she snapped, "That this sweat is coming 'cause I'm so

relaxed?!"

    Impa took the soon-to-be father aside.  "Labor is never easy, Your Majesty," she

said, "She'll be a little edgy, but don't take it personally."

    "Okay," said the youthful king, wiping his brow.

    He walked around, leaving his wife to enjoy her short break between contractions. 

Impa comforted Tari, whose patience was never worn by Impa's presence.

    "You're doing fine," said Impa, "especially for your first child."

    "Thank you," Tari smiled weakly.  Then she clenched her fists and let out a yell of

pain.  The contractions had started again and the room became busy once more.

    "Okay, Tari, push now!" cried Impa.

    Tari strained, clenching Alec's hand tightly.  He tried to calm her, though it was nearly

impossible to do so.  He felt as tense as she.

    "The baby's coming!" called Impa with a smile on her face, "Push, Tari!"

    Alec felt a thrill run through his spine.  He would soon be a father.  Tari let out a yell

as she pushed with all her might.  Relief spread through her body as a baby's cry rang

through the room.

    "Congratulations, Your Majesties," smiled Impa, holding up a wrapped bundle, "you

have a daughter."

   

    Alec held his small daughter, marveling at the miracle that had brought her to him.  He

had to leave his wife's side so that she might rest, but was allowed to hold his child as

much as he liked.  He had never seen anything so beautiful in his whole life.  Impa came

in slowly.  He turned smiling at her, but she did not return the greeting.  A new worry

filled him.

    "What is it, Impa?" he asked.

    "Here," she said gravely, taking the girl and placing her in her carriage.

    Impa avoided his imploring eyes.  He could stand it no longer.

    "Tell me," he said, trying to keep his voice strong.

    "It's Tari," she answered, her voice quavering for the first time since Alec had known

her, "The birth...it wasn't good on her.  The nurses...they-they think she might

not... make it."

    Alec blanched.  He held himself up by sure will power, his legs feeling weak.

    "I-I'm sorry," said Impa, holding back tears.

    Alec finally got his wits back and rushed into is wife's room.  She was lying there,

weaker than when he had left her.  She tried to sit up and smile when he came in, but

winced with the effort.

    "Don't," he whispered, gently pushing her back down, "Rest."

    "Alec," she murmured, tears welling in her eyes, "I'm so sorry."

    "Sorry?" he smiled gently, "Why should you be sorry?"

    "I'm leaving you," she whispered, "just when you need me the most.  I can't give you

all that I wanted to."

    "Tari," he hushed, embracing her, "You've given me so much; your love, your hand in

marriage, your trust."

    "A daughter," she smiled.

    "A daughter," he smiled back.

    They sat silent in each other's arms for a moment, tears coming despite their happy

memories.

    "Promise me something, Alec," Tari murmured.

    "Anything," he whispered through a flood of tears.

    "Name her Zelda," she smiled, "Name our daughter Zelda."

    "I will," he promised, not asking why.

    A few minutes later he walked out, staring into space.  Impa turned away, looking out

the window.  She wiped her eyes, sobbing silently.  Alec slowly made his way toward

his daughter's carriage.  He looked at the sleeping child, so beautiful, so perfect.

    "My Zelda," he whispered, stroking her forehead, "Our Zelda..."

    Tears streamed down his face dropping gently onto the sleeping child's blanket.  He

collapsed, one hand still on the carriage, and began to weep.

~*~*~

A/N:   Oh, poor Alec…

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